2008 marks the centenary of The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame the best book about talking animals ever written.* The entire text of the book is available online in several places, but I like this one due to the old-school illustrations.
*Watership Down being a very close second.
As a child growing up in England, my mother would read Wind in the Willows to my brother and I. I was very young, and some of it was difficult for me to follow … but I always loved it. (I’ve always loved stories involving animals and yes, Watership Down is one of those pivotal books in my life, and I go back to it often.) About 15 years ago, my brother and I saw The Piper at the Gates of Dawn episode of Wind in the Willows on PBS. We both had a very visceral response to it … it was so compelling and disturbing. I’d love to hear from anyone that has something to say about what this episode means … please do write, I’m a little haunted by it.
I’m intrigued by your posting in regards to the ‘visceral’ feeling that you were left after viewing the Wind in the Willows, ‘piper’. I’ve been able to locate a PBS version done a couple of years ago, but can’t find anything re 15 years ago that you mention having seen.
Please let me know if you have info on your version you alluded to.
I’m not surprised though at your response to Piper…I believe these paragraphs reveal to us the reason for all earthly existence…not to avoid nature but to embrace ‘pan’ who protects all living creatures. Syd Barrett knew this long ago.
Thanks,
Dan ImDanH@yahoo.com
Just stumbled across this site and thread. The version referred to is undoubtedly the wonderful stop-action animated series released by Thames from 1983-86. (Peter Salis is the voice of Rat.)
The episode, from the first season, is simply, “Piper at the Gates of Dawn.”
The entire series has been released on DVD both in the UK and the US. Check amazon.com or amazon.co.uk
I think it is one of the most moving passages in all literature–can completely understand your reaction–I had it too, from reading it. Would love to see this filmed version to which you refer. The fact that rat sees/understands/calmly accepts it all as normal in a moment, but forgets the vision/insight immediately. Knowing/sensing/seeing/losing that which is ungraspable.
A sublime moment, captured in the guise of a talking vole.
As a child I read “THE WIND IN THE WILOWS” by Kenneth Graham I remember the chapter “The piper at the gates of dawn” as it was the one part I could not fully understand , just recently I came across an old copy of the book in a second hand shop & out of nostalgia read it again and loved it even more, (and I am now aged 75)and the chapter mentioned above sent chivers down my spine, it was & is the most moving story and I now have my own images of Pan ,and as he is pure myth we can all decide what he represents ?
I decided to search google for “piper at the gates of dawn” because I wanted to know if there was a history to the phrase. I’ve not discussed the chapter with anyone before but feel exactly as the previous contributors do about it.I’ve spent decades thinking it was just my querky response to moles situation.